Lamp bulb mounting



03.6,1938. A EL ETA 2,139,374

LAMP BULB MOUNT I NG Original Filed March 29, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 w'w i -:6, 1938. c. A. MICHEL ET AL, 2,139,374

LAMP BULB MOUNTING Original Filed March 29, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Qfiwata C Wfald Patented Dec. 6, 1938 LAMP BULB MOUNTING Clarence A. Michel and Howard C. Mead, Anderson, Ind., assignors to General Motors Corporation, Detroit, Mich., a corporation of Delaware Original application March 29, 1934,, Serial, No.

717,886. Divided and this application January is, 1937,Serial No; 121,046

9 Claims. (01.240-41) This is a division of our prior application Serial No.717,886, filedMarch 29, 1934.

This invention has to do with arrangements for mounting bulbs in a refleetor, especially bulbs with what is known as a prefocused base. A prefocused base is a base provided with locating means such as a flange, usually in theform of a body of the base and exring surrounding the tending radially outward therefromwThe ring relation to the bulb filaments and when the bulb is positioned in engagement with the reflector or other support the filament is accurately located withrespect to the deflector. According to thepres'ent invention the bulb is held in position by spring means preferably in the form of a contracting ring made of coiled spring wire. If desired, means maybe provided to hold the bulb against rotation. The spring may serve not only to hold the bulb in placebut also to'hold a connector in position to supply current to the bulb.

Other details of theinvention will be made clearin the course of the following description taken in connection with l the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure lis a vertical section through one form of mounting for securingthe bulb in the reflector, while'Figure 2 is a rear view with the contact'carrier removed.

Figure 3 .is a vertical section through another modification. j Figure iis a section on line 4-4 of Figure 3. Figure 5 is a rear view of the construction of Figure 3.

Figures6, 'Yand 8 are vertical sections through further modifications. 1 l l Figure 9 is a rear view of the form of the invention shown in Figure 8, with parts broken away. l

Figure 10 is a vertical section through a fur thermodification, while Figure 11 is a perspective view showing the modified formof bulb employed in Figure 10, together with the sleeve used j to assist in holding the bulb in position.

In all the'figures, illindicates a portion oi the reflector, and I2 the socket for receivingthe flange or the locating ring l3 of the bulb. 14 indicates the sleeve portion of the locating ring 50 which encircles thebulb base l6, and is soldered thereto after the bulb has been properly adjusted. It! indicates a flange extending radially outward from the ring adapted to seat in the bottom of lugZU to engagein a notch, or opening'in the is secured tothefbody of the base in accurate thesocket l2. The flangemay be provided with 26 in the form of an annulus. Spring 26is under tension, and consequently serves to push against rib 22 and draw the bulb re arwardly so that the flange lfl is held, yieldingly, in engagement with the bottom of the socket.

In the form of the invention shown in Figures 1 and 2 the bulb base is somewhat lengthened,-

and is provided with bayonet pins 28 to permit connection of the contact carrier 30 in the form. of a cup through which passes ,conductorv32 con-- nected to contact 34 seated on insulating disc 36- which is pressed forwardly by coil spring 38.

With this form of the invention, it willbe obvious that the bulb, and contact carrier may be removed from the reflector by simply pulling the bulb forwardly, and thereafter the contact carrier may be separated from the bulb if desired. v l

Theform of the invention shown in Figures 3 to 5 is similar to that shown in Figures 1 and 2, except that the contact carrier remains in place upon removal of the headlamp. The contact carrier I30 is in the forin of a cup having a flange 48 at its open end seated in the sub-socket 5|! formed within the socket l2. The carrier I30 is provided with an integral lug 54 engaging in a notch infthereflector to prevent rotation. The carrier I30 isalso provided with outwardly pressed lugs 56 providing seats for the helical spring 58, and with circumferentially spaced slots 60to permit thespring 58 to engage behind rib 22 on the locating ring of the bulb. The locating ring in this form of the invention is of the same construction as that shown in Figures 1 and 2, except that it is somewhat longer. As best shown in Figure3 the coil spring 58, wedges between lugs 56 and the back of the reflector, and thus holds the flange 48 on the carrier I30 in engagement with the sub-socket. At the same time portions of the spiing'passing through slots 60 engage the rib 22 and urge the bulb into the socket l2.

In this form of the invention the bulb is shown equipped with contacts in the form of flat prongs 62 which engage return bent contacts 64 received in two part housing 66 made of insulating material and held within the carrier I30. As shown in Figure 4 the insulator'fili is provided with an outwardly extending flange 68' havingthe rear surface thereof formed on a radius so as to have rocking contact with the closed end of the cupshaped carrier I30. The purpose of this arrangement is to permit the bulb to fit into the contact carrier whatever be-..the angular relation of the prongs 'to the axis of the locating ring. The provision of the rocking mounting of the insulator 66 in the carrier I30 permits adjustment in one direction, and the slots in the insulator receiving the contacts 64 are wider than the prongs 62 so as to permit adjustment in a direction at right angles to the axis of rocking movement provided by the flange 68.

The modification shown in Figure 6 is substantially the same as that shown in Figures 3 to 5, except that the contact housed within the contact carrier I30 is of the type previously described in connection with Figure 11' The modification shown in Figure 7 is substantially the same as'that shown in Figure 1, except that the locating ring I I3 on the bulb is lengthened and provided with bayonet slot con- 'nection 10 with contact carrier I2. With this construction the bulb locating ring, contact carrier, and leads will corneout with the bulb.

The form of invention shown in Figures 8 and 9 is characterized by the fact that lugs '14 are pressed out of the side wall of the socket I2. These lugs serve to retain the annular helical spring I6 in position so that it acts to yieldingly press the flange of the locating ring 2I3 of the bulb against the socket I2. The bulb is disengaged from the socket I2 by pulling or tilting it forwardly, causing the spring I6 to expand and release the locating ring 2 I3. In this form of the invention the reflector is provided with a lug I8 adapted to seat in a notch I9 inthe flange of the locating ring 2I3' to prevent rotation of the bulb in its socket. Obviously, with this construction some provision must, be made to support the contact carrier, but this may be done in any of the ways previously described. y In the modification disclosed in Figures 10 and i l the locating-ring 3I3 has its tubular portion extending forwardly as in the case of the form last described. Diametrically opposite portions of the flange of the ring are bent outwardly of the plane of the fiange as at 80 and lie along the bulb base, The ends of the portions 80 are formed to provide ribs to receive the encircling coil spring. 84 indicates a sleeve provided at its forward end with outwardly pressed lugs 86 adapted to be seated in a groove or sub-socket 88 formed in the socket I2. Sleeve 84 is also provided with outwardly pressed lugs 90, and with slots 92 to accommodate the members 80. In assembling the parts as shown in Figure 10, the sleeve 84 is first inserted in the socket and the lugs 86 are then bent outwardly to prevent its removal. Coil spring 82 is then engaged over the lugs 90 so that it yieldingly holds the sleeve in the reflector. Suitable means may be provided to prevent relative rotation of the parts. In inserting the bulb, it is but necessary to position it so that the lugs 80 enter the slots 92, and thereafter the ribs on the member 80 snap behind the spring 82 and the bulb is clamped tightly in position.

We claim:

1. The combination of a support having an apertured portion, a bulb having a base extending into the aperture in the support and provided with a radially extending portion adapted to engage one side of the support, a contact carrier provided with contacts for engagement with the contacts on the base, spring means cooperating with the support, bulb base and contact carrier to hold the bulb yieldingly to the support and the contact carrier in yielding engagement with the base, and cooperating means on the bulb base and support for preventing rotation of the bulb with respect to the support.

2. In the combination as defined in claim 1, said spring means comprising a contracting spring ring.

3. The combination of a support having an apertured portion, a bulb having a base extending into the aperture in the support and provided with a radial projection adapted to engage one side of the support, and with a radial projection at the rear of the support, a contact carrier having portions straddling the base, and spring means encircling the contact carrier and base and engaging the rear of the support andthe last named projection so as to exert yielding pressure on the bulb to hold it in position with the contact carrier in operative relation thereto.

4. In combination: an incandescent electric lamp; a mounting for said lamp; said lampv having a base provided with lamp contact means; said base having lateral extension means a first portion of which abuts said mounting; carrier means, carrying contact means cooperable with said lamp. contact means; and means, including a second portion of said lateral extension means, and including a portion of said carrier, constructed and arranged to detachably connect said carrier and said base so that said carrier means is supported solely by said base.

5. In combination: an incandescent electric lamp; a mounting for said lamp; said lamp having a base provided with lamp contact means; said base having lateral extension means a first portion of which abuts said mounting; carrier means, carrying contact means cooperable with said lamp contact means; and means, including a second portion of said lateral extension means, disposed radially inwardly of said first portion, and including a portion of said carrier, constructed and arranged to detachably connect said carrier and said base so that said carrier means is supported. solely by said base.

6. The combination of a support having an apertured seat, a tubular contact carrier fitted in said aperture and having a radial projection engaging said seat to position the contact carrier therein, a bulb having a base adapted to be inserted in said tubular contact carrier provided with a radial projection positioning the bulb with respect to the seat, and common means cooperating with the contact carrier, bulb and support yieldingly holding said carrier and bulb in position in said seat.

'7. In the combination as defined in claim 6, said seat comprising axially stepped portions, the projection on said carrier engaging the stepped portion nearer the axis while the projection on said base engages the stepped portion further from the axis.

8. The combination of a support having an apertured seat, a tubular contact carrier fitted in said aperture and having a radial projection engaging said seat to position the contact carrier therein, a bulb having a base adapted to be inserted in said tubular contact carrier provided with a radial projection positioning the bulb with respect to the seat, said contact carrier and bulb base having radial projections located at the rear of said support when said carrier and bulb are in operative position therein, and resilient means engaging said last-named projections and the support yieldingly holding said contact carrier and bulb in position in said seat.

9. The combination of a support having an apertured seat, a tubular contact carrier fitted in said aperture and having a radial projection engaging said seat to position the contact carrler therein, a bulb having a base adapted to be inserted in said tubular contact carrier provided with a radial projection positioning the bulb with respect to the seat, said contact carrier and bulb base having radial projections located at the rear of said support when said carrier and bulb are in operative position therein, said carrier having a slot therein to expose the rear projection on said bulb base, and yieldable means encircling said carrier and base and engaging said last-named projections andsupport and yieldably holding said contact carrier and bulb in position in said seat.

CLARENCE A. MICHEL.

HOWARD C. MEAD. 

